The setup

Three days before Super Bowl III, incomparable Jets QB Joe Namath appeared before the Miami Touchdown Club, tossed a few footballs into the audience, jested briefly and then, growing serious, announced:

“The Jets will win on Sunday, I guarantee it.”

And his Jets were anywhere from an 18-point to 23-point underdogs.

Back and forth

“I have a lot of respect for Joe,” Baltimore defensive end Bubba Smith said. “He’s an exceptional quarterback. But a football player who’s real good doesn’t have to talk. The Green Bay Packers were real champions. They never talked. They never had to. That’s the way I visualize all champions, dignified and humble.

“All this Namath talk isn't going to fire us up.”

On that point, Namath agreed, saying, “If they need newspaper clippings to fire them up, they’re in trouble.”

First strike

After Randy Beverly picked off a Colts pass in the end zone, the Jets went to work from their own 20. Matt Snell ran four straight times to the 46. Three Namath completions and a short run by Emerson Boozer set up a 12-yard pass to Snell to get the Jets to the Colts’ 9.

Snell gained 5 yards to the right side, then smashed to the left, where Winston Hill rode Lou Michaels out of the play, Boozer erased safety Rick Volk and, at the goal line, Snell bulled over middle linebacker Dennis Gaubatz. When Jim Turner converted, the Jets led, 7-0, in the second quarter.

Turning point

With 25 seconds remaining in the first half, the Colts reached the Jets’ 42. Earl Morrall handed off to Tom Matte, who pitched back to Morrall—a flea-flicker. Jimmy Orr was wide open at the 10, but Morrall never saw him and instead threw toward Jerry Hill. Jim Hudson intercepted the pass and the Jets went to the locker room up 7-0.

Pulling away

Jim Turner booted two third-quarter field goals and a third early in the fourth quarter to stretch the Jets’ lead to 16-0. Colts coach Don Shula took out Morrall and replaced him with veteran Johnny Unitas, who didn’t fare much better, completing 11 of 24 passes for 110 yards and an interception.

Parting shot

“We didn't win on passing or running or defense. We beat ’em in every phase of the game. If ever there was a world champion, this is it.” —Namath